Tuesday, April 29, 2014

NBA Commissioner Silver Delivers the Life Long Ban to Sterling from the NBC; Now Moves to Eject Clippers Owner

Silver said it did not matter that Sterling’s comments were recorded without his knowledge in a private setting. “Whether or not these remarks were shared in private,” Silver said, “they are now public and they represent his views.”

This reaction by the Clippers without Sterling was what the players, coaches, and fans of the Clippers needed after a very trying few days -- "WE ARE ONE"

The Los Angeles Clippers released a statement following the lifetime banning of owner Donald Sterling, expressing support and agreement of it.

“We wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver today. Now the healing process begins," the Clippers statement said.

Impressed with new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver who got to the bottom of this investigation right away, came out with the fact that it was Donald Sterling's voice, and didn't buy into the Sterling defense that it was recorded without his knowledge. He gained the respect of other owners, players, and fans of the NBA by taking quick action after the investigation was complete.

Now calling for removal of the Clippers owner has the Players Association in agreement that the new Commissioner is doing what is right.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued sweeping sanctions against Donald Sterling on Tuesday in response to controversial remarks about blacks purportedly made by Sterling. Silver said the Clippers owner was fined $2.5 million and was banned from any association with the team for life. Silver added that he would urge other owners to force a sale of the team.

Silver said the lifetime ban would stand regardless of whether Sterling was ultimately forced to sell the team he's owned for 33 years. The commissioner said the NBA constitution allowed owners to eject Sterling if three-quarters of the owners voted in favor of such a move, and that he would commence the process of expulsion immediately.
“I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him,” said Silver, who appeared visibly agitated throughout his remarks.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted his support, saying he agreed "100%" with Silver's findings and the actions taken against Sterling.

Under the terms of Silver’s punishment, the 80-year-old Sterling cannot attend any NBA games or practices and is not allowed to inhabit any Clippers facility or participate in any business or player personnel decision involving the team. Sterling is also barred from the NBA’s Board of Governors meetings and other league activities, Silver said.

The commissioner said the $2.5-million fine was the maximum allowed under the league constitution and would be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts. The NBA and the National Basketball Players Assn. will jointly select those organizations.

Getting the NBA Player's Association on board with the action taken by NBA Commissioner Silver could go a long way in ending the long standing problems that former NBA Commissioner Stern had the with Player's Association. It is a new Commissioner and a new day in the NBA.

“As soon as [NBA owners] can do it,” Johnson said of a timetable to end Sterling’s ownership.

Mason said players had been prepared to boycott playoff games if Silver didn’t issue a severe punishment.

The news conference appeared to mark a turning point in the often-contentious relationship between the NBA and union. Johnson described Silver as the “players’ commissioner" and praised his swift action against what Johnson called a “rotten apple” and “cancer.”

Ron Klempner, acting director of the players' union, said Tuesday was a “transcendent” moment for the league and that he believed the ownership vote would be resolved as quickly as possible.

Here are some comments from some former Laker greats and a current Laker Steve Nash:

Magic Johnson said on Twitter that Silver "showed great leadership" in banning Sterling for life. Shaquille O'Neal weighed on Twitter in with "Way to go, Commissioner Silver! The NBA stands for everybody!"

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, said he was "just really thrilled" with Silver's punishment of Sterling, which also included a $2.5 million fine.

"He handled it the right way," Abdul-Jabbar said at a Tuesday news conference in Los Angeles immediately after Silver announced his decision. "It's going to be a new day here in this city."

Lakers point guard Steve Nash, the NBA's elder statesman at 40 years old, thanked Silver for a "quick, unequivocal and decisive" move in banning Sterling.

Racism has no place in sports, in every day life, in politics, or anything else. Maybe some GOP should get a hint that the American people are fed up with racist statements and are not going to keep putting up with the nasty comments including the ones against President Obama.

It is time for the American people after enduring the racism we are seeing today, to remember the immortal words of Rev Martin Luther King Jr:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

First major test for the new NBA Commissioner and he passed with flying colors.